Princess Cornblossom
Things are calming down a bit in the chickenhouses and allowing me just a little time to work on other things on the farm. It’s turned winter on us skipping straight through fall. One morning this week we had a dusting of snow on the ground. Just a few days ago it was 70 and sunny. Once again I find myself under the gun to get firewood cut for the winter. I had the electric company cut two huge oaks that had died and have started cutting them into lengths to be split. One of the RECC guys wanted the logs so I agreed to split the money from their sale with him. Little did I know I wouldn’t be seeing a dime. He hauled off 11 large logs. Even loaded them with the RECC pole truck onto his log truck. He came back a few days later, but not to pay me, to take the poles I had paid to have set for the double wide before it’s move. Sometimes things like this make me want to stop trusting anyone.
Garett, Katie, Kaylee, BJ and I got away for the majority of the day last Saturday to attend a native american pow wow. It was called The Princess Cornblossom Festival. They had lots of cool stuff. There were demonstrations with bows and blowguns, dancing, drumming, and lots of artifacts and crafts. I think the kids had a good time and they learned something. This trip kind of killed three birds with one stone. The festival was held at the old 4H camp here in the county. It was one of the first camps built in this area. It’s been a lot of years since it was used for a 4H camp, but there is a ton of history there. Today it’s mostly used just for it’s shelter, but in previous years it had a huge barbecue pit and alot of families had their reunions there. Bj’s folks still have their reunions there. It was a trip down memory lane for BJ. In the 70s the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company donated the lumber from the old Stearns Hotel to the 4H camp and they built a big shelter and bunkhouse. Since then her family has had their reunions there. Before the new shelter there was an older smaller shelter which had a barbecue pit in the middle. Bj says she still remembers her papaw roasting a pig every year in that pit when she was a kid. It’s things like that which I hold dear. Noone can ever take away the stories you can share nor the memories you hold so close.
Construction should be starting any day on the second set of chicken houses. We will be using a group of mennonite builders this time. I hope to keep as much of the money from construction in this area as possible. I had 6 loads of rock delivered and spread on the roads around the building pad. Sometime today I hope to get the time to even them out a bit with the bucket on the 7010. I had to make a warranty claim on one of the wheels last week. I don’t know how I never noticed the wheel was bent. The center disc of the wheel had an obvious bend in it, but I hadn’t hit anything and there was no mark anywhere else on the tire or rim. The only thing the dealer and I could figure is the crate of wheels was dropped somewhere in shipment and no damage noticed. Everyone I talk to says they have never seen the center of one bent.
Well I have promised Madison a horseback ride this evening so I better end for now. I’ve added some new pics so feel free to browse around them. Thanks for reading and check back soon!
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I am just really enjoying these posts; I loved the photos!
November 4th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Wanna get married?
November 5th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
You should advertise on Craigslist.com for \’city folk\’ people like us who could come down for a weekend and help you out!
It would be a dream-come-true vacation for me and my kids!
You wouldn\’t pay us… it\’d be volunteer work. The whole point is for the \’city folk\’ and their \’city kids\’ to experience something new.
I grew up on a farm and had horses my whole life… one of my biggest regrets thus far is that I haven\’t been able to share those experiences with my children.
Anyway, rock on! You\’re doing great!
November 6th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Hi Joel,
I know what you mean about having people disappoint you by not coming through on thier end of the bargain. Hopefully he will still come through, if not just turn it over to the Sheriff (stolen timber) and the RECC (personal use of Coop equipment). Since it was a verbal agreement it is your word against his, but the other guys on the crew who knew what was going on will probably back you up.
I guess you heard about the proposition in California that passed limiting the use of cages for laying hens and mandating housing size requirements for all livestock. It was overwhelmingly rejected in the rural areas, but due to the number of voters in the urban areas it passed. I just wish these “do gooders” would get there nose bloodied a few times. Most farmers and livestock producers are more concerned with the ethical and humane treatment of thier animals than what the “do gooders” would think. After all, a healthy and happy animal does better in growing, producing eggs or milk. The big problem are the videos that has come out from undercover “Humane Society” investigators in large corporate farms employing hourly wage workers whose major concerns are getting things done quickly and drawing thier paycheck. Most family farmers would never harm an animal or leave them in a condition which endangers thier health. So much for my two cents.
I’m glad you and the kids had a chance to spend a little time at the festival. It really helps to open your eyes about other people’s cultures, history and lives. I just wish more of our ancestors had been willing to learn about and from others than trying to impose thier will.
Take care, and enjoy the fall! I bet the autumn foliage there is great. We saw quite a bit of the leaves color this past weekend, unfortunately they will be gone soon. We have been having quite a bit of wind the past few days, and it rained some last night and this morning. (Read that hard rain, high winds, and thunderstorms.)
Kevin
November 7th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Hello,
I read your recent post about your coyote troubles. Years ago, we had an awful problem with coyotes, they would take out 4 or 5 sheep and goats at once; just tear open their sides and leave them to die.
We solved the problem by buying 2 livestock guard dogs, a Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd cross. From the day we brought home those 10 week old puppies (they had been raised since birth with sheep and goats by working parents) we never lost another animal to coyotes or dogs.
Today, we have 2 Great Pyrenees and no predators in sight. As long as you bring home pups of the right breed that have been raised with livestock by working parents, you won\’t have a problem. Good Luck!
November 7th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
sounds like you realy have alot going on glad to see you are still able to get out and play with the kids and keep us all postead on whats going on i think its great we have been crazy besey this fall with the farm and the kids one as in marching band one was into football,and to top it all off my wife leased a new truck instead of being a company driver so now im trying to help her manage that as well. we have also had to start running some new fence as our calfs have started to run through te other stuff it kinda seems like they do it for fun.Our hens our at 30 weeks and they still are not laying eggs.Not to sure why.The pigs
are growing ok looks like they are going to be some good table pork. The chickens look real good.Our sons marching band is a show band so we had to deal with a hole list of compitions then thay went to the state championship and pulled a number one. well lots to do got to go.god bless
November 8th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Joel
This is a nice post. I lived in Southern Illinois for over 30 years on a farm, horses, cows, pigs, quail, bird dogs, pheasants ~
I worked hard but had to leave. My husband and I just grew apart. It was the best thing. I now live in Arizona, no humidity, nice winters. It agrees with me.
I do posts to keep my sanity and use my talents to amuse everyone and myself. Ha!
I am 60 now and enjoy life, knowing that everyone is not up and up, have been there many times, very disappointing to say the least.
I live knowing that most people are good and try to do the right thing. I feel sorry for those who are not and do not!
Keep posting as it is good for the soul and others that read your material.
Your children should be proud Joel.
Have a great Thanksgiving dinner ~ poor turkeys! Ha!
Sheila
November 17th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Kori,
Thaks for the comment! I hope you’ll be checking back often! Thanks for reading!
Larisa,
Thanks for the idea. I’ve always wanted to do something of that nature, but just stay so darn busy it would be rough to look after folks and see that they have a good time. I do hope that as time goes on and things settle down I can have some folks visit for a few days at a time. If for nothing else to get a up close look at farm life and to ride horses in the Big South Fork. Thanks for the comment!
Kevin,
Looks like the log fiasco worked itself out. I don’t know what to make of Califoria baning caged birds. It will most certainly cost their state some revenue. I geuss I respect everyones opinion, but too often these do gooders complain about chickens and run right to McDonalds for a chicken sandwich. Sad part is they’ll complain if the price of that sandwich goes up a dime because of production costs. Can’t have it both ways! This country is headed for some tough times. I just hope folks can sort out what is important to them. Thanks for the comment!
Maria,
LGD’s may be a long term solution for me. For now, Dusty, Madison’s Jack is standing guard and so far no more coyote sightings. Thanks for the comment and check back soon!
Jim,
Sounds like you are as busy as me. Most chickens don’t start to lay until 26 weeks or so. It may be the light. We always put a light in our coop. Could try giving them some cayene pepper too. Seems to stimulate laying. Thanks for the comment!
Sheila,
Good to have you reading! I agree most folks are good, sometimes things just don’t work out the way we’d like them to. I’ll keep posting and you keep reading. Thanks for the comment!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Michelle,
Since you asked, I think I would like to get married again someday although right now my focus is on the children. Life would be a lot more enjoyable sometimes if I felt like I had a parter that was strivig for the same goals as me. Thanks for the comment. Hope you’ll be checking back soon!
December 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Joel,
I stumbled on your blog searching for something else and I\’m so glad I found it. It is great!!! I can\’t wait to read your diary in Farm/Ranch Living I love that Magazine. My uncle was a cattle and hay farmer for years. His health is so bad now he can\’t farm. I know all the work it takes to run a farm. My other uncle raises chickens, not nearly as many as you but enough to keep him occupied, he is 89 yrs old and since my aunt passed on that is all that has kept him going. He is a very simple man always in overalls, and still drives a 64 Chevy pickup.
Being a single mom of 3 kids I also know what it takes to raise children by yourself.
From what I have read your children should be proud to have a hard working, caring father. In my opinion country folk are the best!
I admire what you have done and I wish you much success with your farm business.
May God continue to bless you and your children.